The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1887-08-25
CLEAN SEEDING.

In all emplOyments IL is expected
that the workman shall not only be
expert in the manipulation of his art,
but shall be well acquainted with the
nature of his material. [ can perceive
no good reasons why it is not equally
incumbent on a practical farmer to.
understand the true character Of those,
plants which it is his especial interest
to cultivate or exterminate.. If our.
& boys, while in school were required to-
make themselves acquainted with that
portion of the vegetable kingdom.
which annually demands their atten-
ton on the farm, the profession would
speedily assume a new and engaging
aspect. The labors of the field would.
he blended with pleasant contempla-
tions of facts of the deepest interest to.
inquiring minds-and agriculture, in
stead of being Stunned as an irksome
drudgery, would be justly esteemed as
one Of the noblest employments Of a
free and intellectual people.
The term weed is applied to those
intrusive and unwelcome plants that
persist in growing where they are not
wanted, or a "plant out Of place.
Many of the troublesome weeds found
on our premises are emigrants from
other portions of the world. The
number of plants indigenous to our
section that are entitled to rank as
pernicious weeds is comparatively
small. AS the original savage disap-
pear with the advance of the whites,
so do the native plants generally yield
their possession as cultivation extends.
The majority of noxious weeds
found among us are naturalized.
strangers, that appear to be quite at
home, and are with difficulty to be.
persuaded or driven away.
The labors of the farmer are a con
slant struggle. On the one hand, by
presenting the most favorable con-
ditions possible, he endeavors to make
certain plants grow and produce to
their utmost capacity. And on the.
other to prevent the growth of certain.
zother plants that are ready to avail
themselves of these favorable con
ditions. The farmer is deeply inter
ested in two points concerning weeds.
First-how they get into his ground !;
and second-how to get them out.
Cultivation can be the more p~roftably
carried on if the husbandman knows
something of the nature of the plants
he wishes to raise. If he would sue
c~essfully operate in the other direction
and stop those hurtful plants from
growing, he can do so much better if
he knows what are the peculiar habits
of the individual with which he has to-
contend. It is an essential to be
familiar with the of growth,
and mode of propagation of a weed as
it is with a useful plant. The plant
that spreads itself entirely seed must.
be differently treated from one that
multiplies by the root also, whether
we would propagate or destroy. We.
should bear in mind that while we
enrich our soil, we are fitting it for.
tares as well as for useful grain, and.
that thorough culture and good farm
ing ensures a sort of general exemp-I
ton from the pestilence of weeds, and
renders easy the subjugation of those.
which make their way into our grounds.
If the ground be not occupied with.
something good, there will be plenty
OF the bad to take it's place. "Idle-
ness is the mother of vice. in this as
well al in morals. Possession is an
advantage in other matters as well as
law. A plant when fully established
is not disposed to yield without a
struggle, and the worst ones are gen
orally tenacious of life.
Some one has said that all the plants
of a given place are in a state of war
In relation to each other. The largest
ones smother the smallest ones the
longest lived ones supercede those of
shorter duration ; and the most fruit
full gradually take possession of the
space which would otherwise have
been occupied by those which multi
ply more slowly. The husbandman,
therefore, should avail himself of this
principle, and aid the more valuaSle
plants In their struggle to choke down
and expel the worthless.
I once heard a learned gentleman
advance the theory, that God at the
beginning or Immediately after the
transgression caused weeds to spon.
taneously spring up in all places pos
sible for them to grow Or in other
words you might go into the depths of
the forest wilds and clean off the trees